Trunk



March 23 1926. 1,577,745

J. C. GRIDER TRUNK Filed May 9, 1925 2 sheets-sheet 1 March 23,1926.1,577,745

J. C. GRIDER TRUNK Filed May 9, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 me/nto@ dwf/,v C".6797795@ Patnie'aiuar. 23, 192e.

UNITED STATES 1,511,745 PATENTA OFFICE,

JOHN C. GRIDER, 0F BERlKELEY, CALIFORNIA.

TRUNK.

Application led May 9, 1925. Serial No. 29,162.

the following is a specification.

The present invention relates tb improvements in trunks for holdingWearing apparel, merchandise and the like;

The general object of the invention is to provide for giving easyaccess\to the 1nterior of either or both end portions of the body of thetrunk Without the necessity of detacliing various trays from the bodyand additionally to provide for giving access to the trays independentlyor collectively.

The above and other objects are accomplished by instruineiitalitiespointed out in the following specification.

The invention is clearly defined in the claims.

A satisfactory embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings forming part of the specification and in whichFigure 1 is a perspective of the invention showing certain parts thereofset up and in the op'en position.

Figure 2 is a side elevationy showing the parts closed and certain parts`)broken away to disclose the construction and relation kof other parts.i

Figure 3 is a front elevation showing the trunk arranged upright at oneend with the parts thereof adjusted so as to function as a dressingtable, also showing certain parts broken away to disclose the relationof other parts.

Figure 4 is a detail front velevation of the supporting tray brace orstrut.

Figure 5 is a detail section of the mounting for the strut. A

Figure 6 is a View partly in vertical crossseetion and end elevation ofa modified form of trunk for use in connection with motor vehicles.

Figure 7 isa detail section of one of the table leaves showing thesocket.

The body a of the trunk may be of any of the usual materials nowemployed in the manufacture of trunks, and comprises the conventionalbottoni 5, side walls 6 and end Walls 7; these parts being connectedtogether in the lordinary manner and provided with the usual protectiveand reinforcing edge strips 8 and corner pieces 9. The cover comprises aplurality of trays b and c, two being shown herein for purposes ofillustration. These elements are so pro` portioned that their combinedtransverse areas correspond approxin'iately to the transverse area ofbody a so that when they are arranged one alongside the other, as shownin Figure 2, they ywill extend completely.

over the opening of the body a and thereby provide a cover or closuretherefor. In their covering positions the trays are supported by theupper edges of the side and end walls (l and 7 of thc body a, as shownin Figures l and 2. The trays may be so constructed that theircapacities will correspond approximately to that of the body, or suchcapacities may be relativelyY less as shown. In its construction, eachtray comprises a bottom 10, end walls 11 and side walls 12 together witha hinged cover 13 having a marginal skirt or flange 14. The trays arcmoveable upwardly and outwardly from over the opening of the body and,in the presentinstance, are shown to be movable to a position laterallyof the end walls 7. Such movement bodily on the part of the trays isafforded by links 15 extending upwardly from the interior of the bodyand having their lower ends pivoted to brackets 16 and their upper'endsextended into recesses in the inner corner portions of the trays andpivotally connected to brackets 17. False inner side walls 18, as shownin Figures 1 and 3, are arranged in spaced relation to the inner facesof the side walls (i, the iiitervening spaces constituting pockets,indicated by 19, for the reception of the links 15. By virtue of thisconstruction, the contents of the body a will be prevent-ed fromoffering obstruction to the free movement of the links 15. in theoperations of opening and closing the cover sections b and c. A strut orbrace 20 having a divided upper end portion 21 terminates in that end inrounded extensions 22 which are journaled in the bearing portions 23 ofalining brackets 24 arranged in spaced relation and secured to thebottoms 10 of the trays on either side of the central portion thereof.Coil springs 25 surround the extensions 22 and operate to the bottoms 10when the braces are in closed position as shown in Figure 2 Wllen a trayyieldingly hold the braces 20 parallel with is extended, however, to theposition shown in the act of restoring it to closed position,

ais

.the brace moves upwardly under the action of the springs and assumesits normal position on the bottom 10, .as shown in Figure 2. 7

The usual overhanging metallic extensions 28 are carried bythc brace toextend over the spaces that exist between the adjacent ends of the braceand between these and the edges of the body when the trays are in closedposition as shown in Figure 2. The usual latches 29 are provided for'securing the trays b to the body a and also the covers 13 to the bodiesof the trays. The elements 30 ot a conventional trunk lock are employedfor locking the trays one to the other and similar elements of anotherlock indicated by 31.in Figure 1, are employed for locking the tray tothe body a. The usual pin or socket membersindicated by 32 are connectedto the body and' l the trays and to the covers of the trays for theparts in the manufacture imparting stability against lateraldisplacement when the parts are in their closed positions. Y

The trunk as shown may be used as a dresser or wardrobe trunk and inthis connection when the trunk is placed upright on the end to the'right in Figure 2, the cover of the uppermost tray which is swungoutwardly and upwardly may be provided with a mirror 33 which will belocated at a convenient height to the user or the height of the mirrormay be increased to the extent of the width of the tray by moving thetray upwardly andoutwardly into the position shown for the cover `inFigure 3. The use required for a trunk of this construction will, ofcourse, have a bearing on the size and proportions of of the trunk. Itwill be observed that a trunk constructed as described may be readilyused as a sample trunk for containing articles of merchandise to bedisplayed. 'hen so used the entire contents of the trays, together withthe contentsk of' the body will be readily visible when the trays are.swung outwardlyand the covers thrown back into the position shown forthe tray on the left in Figure .1.

In Figure 6 I have shown the vtrunk of this invention adapted for use inconnection with a. motor vehicle. In this instance, I have shown thebody a constructed so as to be conveniently arranged upon the runningbo'ard 35 of anordinary automobile,

36 and 37 indicate the leaves' of al table which are hingedly united asindicated at 38 so as to fold one upon the other without proportionedthat when they are folded one upon the other they will nicely nestWithin the body a as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 6. Whenextended the leaves cooperate -to present the top ot a table and inextended position they are supported by suitable supports such astelescoping legs, one of which is shown in Figure 6, the tubular part 40of which has one end adapted to be screwed into a socket 4:1 in the leaf37 and the telescoping section 42 slidingly fits within section 40 andis secured in extended position by the set screw 42. ll'ith thisconstruction, it is obvious that the trunk of the present inventionlends itself readily to provide a dining table Without detachment fromthe car and, in addition, forms ani-deal receptacle for cookingutensils, provisions and other essentials for an outdoor party.

Although I have shown and described preferred embodiments of myinvention, it is to be understood that `the same is susceptible ofvarious changes; and I reserve the right to employ such as may comewithin the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A trunk comprising a body having a bottom, side and end walls, thesaid side walls having pockets opening through the upper edges thereof,a plurality of trays having hinged covers and superimposed upon the bodyand forming a cover theref for, links arranged within the pockets andconnecting the trays with the body and permitting of angular andrectilinear movements of the trays in a directicn outwardly from thebody and beyond the ends thereof.`

2. A trunk' comprisinga body having a bottom, side and end walls, thesaid side walls having pockets opening through the upper edges thereof,a plurality` of trays having hinged covers and superimposed upon thebody and forming a cover therefor,vlinks arranged within the pocketsand' connecting the trays with the body and permitting of angular andrectilinear movements of the trays in a direction outwardly from thebody and beyond the ends thereof, and a leaf member disposed within thcbody and underneath the trays and adapted to be extended outwardly andat right angles thereto when the trays are moved outwardly beyond theends of the body.

rotar c. Gamas,

